Writing instrument



1948- E. B. NICHOLS 2,451,111

WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed Aug. 19, 1944 Ely. z.

WZQ A;

INVENTOR. 0 ,912 5. M07011 A TTORNE Y.

Patented Oct. 12, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to writing instruments, and more particularly to a mechanical pencil having a plurality of lead holders adapted-to be selectively projected to writing position to present leads of diiferent colors or grades, as desired, the present invention being an improvement over that disclosed in my Patent No. 1,730,679, granted on October 8, 1929.

In this patent, there is disclosed a mechanical pencil having a tubular casing in which. are mounted a plurality of lead holders selectively movable from their respective, normally idle, non-writing positions v lthin the casing each to a common Writing position at the tapered, writing end of the casing. Movement of each individual lead holder to and from writing position is accomplished by an associated control element which extends through a suitably formed slot in a control member rotatably carried at the upper of the casing. Each lead holder includes a lead propelling member for cooperation with a helical feed member mounted in the casin and common to all the lead propelling members. Normally, that is, when the lead holders are in their idle or non-writing positions, their lead propelling members are out of engagement with the aforementioned feed member. However, when any one of the control elements is moved in its slot to advance its lead holder to writing position, its lead propelling member is thereby brought into cooperative relation with the feed member. Subsequent rotation of the control member on the casing produces relative rotation between the lead propelling member and the helical feed member to thereby advance the lead.

With a construction such as above described, it is apparent that, when it is desired to change leads, the lead holder in writing position must first be removed to clear the path for entry of the desired lead holder into writin position and then, by another operation, the second lead holder is advanced to writing position. The pencil construction disclosed in my aforesaid patent, While it has proven very useful and popular, nevertheless has the disadvantage that it equires these two distinct operations to be performedin succession. Where, as in some cases, it has been found desirable to change leads very quickly, this constitutes an inconvenience.

The primary object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved mechanical writing instrument which will not be'subject to the aforementioned difiiculty.

More particularly, it is an object of'my present invention to provide an improvedmechanical pencil of the multi-lead type wherein the lead holder in writing position will be automatically returned to its idle or non-writing position upon and simultaneously with the movement of an idle-lead holder into writing position.

Another. object of my present invention is to provide an improved mechanical pencil as aforesaid in which the exchange of leads between the writing and non'writing positions can be accom plished with one hand and in but an instant.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide an improved mechanical pencil as set forth above the parts of which are easy to assemhis and to operate.

A further object of my present invention is to provide an improved, multilead,-mechanical pencil which has a large lead capacity.

Still a further object of my present invention is to provide, in a mechanical pencil of the type referred to, a plurality of lead magazines, each having its own lead holder, lead propeller and operating or feed means for the lead holder, together with a clutch. device for releasably looking any one of said Operating means to the pencil tip when its magazine is brought into writing position. Thus, each magazine constitutes a separate or discrete writing unit independent of the other magazines, but capable of being automatically returned to its idle, non-writing, concealed position within the pencil casing upon movement of another magazine from its idle position to the common writing position.

It is also an object of my present invention to provide an improved, multi-lead, mechanical pencil as above set forth which is comprised of a minimum number of parts, which is relatively inexpensive in cost, and which is highly eflicient in use.

In accordance with my present invention, I utilize the basic design of the pencil of my aboveidentified patent but provide a plurality of com, plete writing units or magazines, each with its own lead holder, lead propelling means and helical feed member therefor, in place of only the lead holders as in my prior pencil. The individual magazines are advanced to and from writing position by control elements as in my prior penoil, but in the control member at the top of the pencil I rotatably mount a cylindrical actuating member provided with the same number of slots as in the control member, the respective Slots of the control member and the actuating member being aligned for reception, by each pair of assoso shaped relative to those of the control member that when a new lead magazine is advanced to writing position, its control element will actuate the actuating member to automatically and simultaneously quickly remove a second magazine previously in writing position and effect its return to idle position,

According to another feature of my present invention, the operating member of each magazine is formed at its lower end to cooperate with a clutch or locking element on the pencil tip. When a magazine is advanced to writing position, it becomes releasably locked to the pencil tip for cooperation therewith as a unit. The lead holders and associated lead propellers, on the other hand, are locked to the pencil casing for cooperation therewith as a second unit. When a magazine is advanced to writing position and one of said units is rotated relative to the other, the lead is caused to be moved in the lead holder and is either projected from or retracted into the pencil tip.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of one form of improved pencil according to my present invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged, vertical, sectional view therethrough taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1,

with portions broken away,

'Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line IV-IV Fi 2,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, perspective view of th magazine selector sleeve,

Figure 6 is a detail, perspective view of the automatic magazine-retracting cam,

Figure '7 is an enlarged, vertical sectional View taken through one of the retracted magazines on the line VII-VII of Fig. 2, and

Figure 8 is a detail, perspective view of the combination lead holder and ejector unit.

Referring more particularly to the drawing in which the same reference characters designate the same parts throughout, there is shown, in Fig. 1, a pencil I comprising a tubular casing having four parts, namely, a barrel 3, a cylindrical control portion 5, a cap I and a tip 9 at the writing end. A pocket clip I I is supported on the casing between the control portion 5 and the barrel 3 in a manner more fully described hereinafter.

Within the barrel 3 is a sleeve I3 formed with a plurality of generally longitudinally extending, circumferentially distributed slots I5 terminating at their lower ends in offset slot portions I5a. The slots I5 are identical in shape to and are arranged in registry with a like number of slots H in the control portion 5. Each pair of slots I5, I! has extending therethrough a control shaft I9 terminating in a control button 2| on the exterior of the control tube 5. Each shaft I9 is carried on the upper end of a rod 22 to which is secured a separate lead magazine 23 in a manner to be shortly more fully set forth, the rods 22 passing through openings 24 in an inverted bearing cup 25 supported within the expanded, lower end 26 of the sleeve I3.

The magazines 23 normally occupy an idle or non-writing posit-ion within the barrel 3, as shown by the right hand magazine in Fig. 2. By pushing any selected button 2I down in its slots I5, I'I, however, the associated magazine 23 will be moved longitudinally to the writing position occupied by the left hand magazine of Fig. 2. If the advanced button at the lower end of the slots I5,

I1 is then turned to the right, its shaft I9 is moved into the slot portions I5a. and I'Ia to releasably lock the adyanced magazinein writing position.

Surrounding each of the supporting rods 22 is a coil spring 21 interposed between the bearing cup 25 and the shaft I9. When a magazine is in its idle position, the associated spring 21 is expanded, as clearly seen at the right of Fig. 2, but whena magazine is movedto the writing position, its spring 21 is compressed between the shaft portion I9 and the bearing cup 25, as shown at the left of Fig. 2. Thus, if the advanced button 2I should later be moved to the left (Fig. 1) by means presently to be set forth in order to bring it into the vertical portions of the slots I5 and H, the contracted spring 2'! will force the shaft I9 upwardly thereby to return the associated magazine to idle position.

Each lead magazine includes a master cylinder 28 formed with an internal, helical groove 29 constituting a feed coil. The cylinder 28 .has secured thereto at its upper end a ring 39 which is loosely confined between a pair of rings 3I brazed or otherwise suitably secured to a longitudinally split, tubular lead guide 32, whereby the cylinder 28 is rotatable on the lead guide 32. At its upper end, the lead guide 32 receives the lower end of the magazine shaft 22 to which it is locked by having its portions 320. pinched firmly about a lug 22a. extending from the shaft 22. Thus, the shaft 22 and the lead guide 32 are arranged to operate as an integral unit. At its lower extremity, the lead guide 32 is formed with a'reduced portion 3212 which acts as a bearing for a lead or writing element 33. V

The lead 33 is frictionally received in a longitudinally split, lead holding sleeve 34 which is slidable in the'guide 32. The sleeve is provided wtih projections 35 which extend through the longitudinal slot in the guide 32 and into the feed coil or helical groove 29. within the sleeve 34 is a lead ejecting rod 35 having a projection 31 which extends through the aligned, longitudinal slots of the sleeve 34 and the guide 32 and is also received in the feed coil 29 for cooperation therewtih. By effecting relative rotation between the master cylinder 28 on the one hand and the assembly comprising the lead guide 32, the sleeve 34 and the rod 35, it will be apparent that the sleeve 34 and the rod 36 will be caused to move longitudinally within the guide 32 to thereby move the lead 33 in one direction or the other.

The casing tip 9 is conical in shape and is formed with a cylindrical extension 40 beyond a shoulder 4| which abuts the lower end of the barrel 3. Secured to the'barrel 3 inside the lower extremity thereof is a locking ring 42, the'upper end of the extension 40' being peened over the upper end of the ring 42 to form a bead or the like 43 which loosely locks the tip 9 around'the ring 42. Thus, the tip 9 is rotatably supported Slidably carried tremity 45 of the master cylinder is forcedtwhen' a magazine is broughtinto writing position. This is for the purposeofreleasably. locking-the: mas-1 ter cylinderof a selected magazinerto :the tip for coactiorr as one. unit; Since the. magazine shafts 22 arezlockedto the: barrel 3: throughitheshafts I 9 .and the control tube .5, it is apparent that the barrel 3. the tube5, the shaftsu|9 and 22, the lead guide -.32,'the lead holder 34 and the lead. ejector rodv 35 :will cooperate as a second unit which is rotatable relative to the first -mentioned .unit. Hence, by .holdingrthetip '9- in one hand'and rotatingzthe barrel .3 and control tube .5 relative thereto, rotationwill bewefiectedbetween the master cylinder 28.;and the-parts withinit to thereby propel the lead 3-i-inone direction or the other, depending upon the direction of relae. tive rotation betweenthe .two unitsspecified above.

Rotatably mounted within the sleeve I3 is a cylindrical actuating sle ve 46 by. means of which automatic return of one: magazine. is effected from writing position to .idle. position while a secondmagazine-is being advanced fromidle position to writing position. The sleeve 46 rests on a reduced-shoulder 41 formed on the: sleeve I3, the clip II having a split collar -.48 which is confined between the tube 5 and the reduced part of the sleeve I3. Theactuating sleeve 46 is held in place by a cup 49 frictionally fitted within the upperend of the sleeve I3 and carrying. an eraser 56 which is coveredvby .the removable casing cap I in well known manner.

The actuating cam sleeve 46 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending, circumferenti-ally distributed slots 5| corresponding in number to the number of slots I5, I! and so are ranged relative thereto that the vertical portions 52 thereof are always in alignment with the slots I5 and IT. The control shafts |9 pass through the slots 5| as well as through the slots I5 and I! (see. Figs. 2 and 3). The upper ends of the slots-5| are provided with lateral offsets 53 hav ing. cam edges 54.- The lower ends of the slots 5| are formed with oppositely disposed offsets 55/.-which are shorter than theslot portions I50 and Ila in the tube 5 and the sleeve- I3, respectively.

When the magazines 2-3 are all in idle PO51? tion, their respective control shafts I9 .are held against the upper extremities of the slots 15,. I1 and 5| by-the springs 21, and the actuating mem-. ber 46 is in extreme clockwise position, looking down on the cap When the button 2| of a selected magazine is pushed down toadvance the desired magazine to writing position with its cylinder 28 in locking engagement with thefriction sleeve 44, and then counter-clockwise into the slot portions I50, and Na to releasably lock the magazine in this position, the control shaft I9 thereof-engages the end of th associated slot offset 55't0 also turn the member 46 counterclockwise. The slot offsets 53-are long enough to then receive the remaining shafts I9 therein so that the idle magazines willnot be disturbed.

When it is desired to change leads, thebutton 2| of the newly desired magazine is moved downwardly along the slots I5, 5|. Since the actuating sleeve 46 is now in its extreme counterclockwise. position as above :described,-the actuating shaft I9 of the newly selected buttoniengages .the cam edge-54,.which is now'interposed in .it path, and forces the member--46 to rotate clockwise, whereupon the end of the'slo.t-offset 55 immediately forces the shaft 19 of the magazine-- in writing position into alignment with ithe vertical portions of its slots I5,v I 1, 5|. .Theas sociated spring 121:;then 'quickly: returns .thezlast used: magazine cto': its idl'eliposition, thus) clearing: therpath'xfor thes-newly selected .magazinexwhich is simultaneously: brought into the iwritingzzposb' tion, This :cycle is thenrepeated:.eachitim an exchange; of magazine is .elfectedebetweensairytwoxmagazines one: .of which; is :in .idle zposition and the other in writingposition.

From ;the foregoingxdescription; it will :he. ape parent: that .:I have: provided: an improved me.-: chanical" 1 pencil" which incorporates many: ad-. vantageousfeaturesnot foundin prior artzpencils; Althoughslfihave"shownz'anddescribed but a; single embodiment of my invention; it will'lundoubtedly: be'apparentrto those skilled in thesart thalzmany other: evariations:thereoflasfl'well as-achanges in the pnedescri-bed, are .possible; For example,1=in place :of .the' tapered. end'n 45 of -:the: master icylinder and cooperating friction element .44 the. exterior surface. of the; former and the: :interior surface 1 of the latter. may. be. formed of rcorresponding-shapes,-.such as square, hexagonal;:.zetc., or the nmayzbe knurled; or formediwith rihsand grooves all adapted :to cooperate :with eacheother. to releasably lockthertipxto the. master cylinder of theumagazine .in'writing. position. Also, instead .of .rotatably coupling the-tip :9 to the'fibarrelr3. at the? lower extremity of the. barrel, I theztip 9 maybe made rigid wit-hthe barrel: andftherotatable coupling-"i provided somewhere along. .the barrel below the lower endof the sleeve|3s Furthermore,- it is apparent tha'tthe slotsa5| :inthe actuating member 1 46 anditheir oilsets need mot be shaped .precisely as shown in the. drawing. but may be otherwise suitably-shapedto provide the desireidraction. :Various other. changes will; 'no doubt; readily suggest themselves .to those-skilled in the-art;

I claim; as'my invention;

1. In a mechanical pencil, a casing, a pluralityof'lead magazines within said casing each-movable therein zto'iand from-leadconcealing and lead-exposing positions: and each: including (l) -a lead guide, (2) lead propelling means-movably carried by the lead guide-and (3) an operating member for .movingether lead propelling means: relative to the lead: guide, said operating members-being non-operable 1 to move their Irespectively' associated leadpropelling means when-said magazines are in leadconcealingposition-manuallyoperable means associated with. said magazines for effecting; simultaneous exchange of positions 5 between a pair: of .said:.magazines one of which is in lead exposing position-and the other of which is in lead concealin'g 'position; said. means including an actuatingzmember within zsaid ic'asing positioned beyond the lead: concealing positions of said magazinesandmeanszassociated with said operating; members for rendering the operating member of [said othermagazine. operable to move its associated lead-propelling means whenvsaid last named magazineiis ;mov.ed. into xlead' exposing position.

2. In a mechanicalpencil,.a casing, a plurality of lead -magazines concealed within-said casing and selectively movable, one at a time; from an idle position-to a writing position for projectingdts lead through oneend of said casing, said magazines each including .(1) .a lead guide, (2) lead propelling means movably:=carried by the lead guide, and :(3) an operatingrmemberfor moving theleadapropelling. means relative. to .said :lead guide, said-:operatingrmembers being nonsroperable:

, any one of said magazines at will to writing position, means. associated with said last named means for retracting a magazine which is in writing position simultaneously with the movement of another. of said magazines into writing position, said last named means including an actuating member within said casing positioned beyond the idle positions of said magazines, and means associated with said operating members for rendering the operating member of said other magazine operable to move its associated lead propelling means when said last named magazine is moved into writing position.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a casing, a plurality of lead magazines within said casing selectively movable therein one at a time from lead concealing to lead exposing position, only one of said magazines being adapted to occupy the lead exposing position while the others of said magazines simultaneously occupy lead concealing positions within said casing, each of said magazines including (l) a lead guide, (2) lead propelling means movably carried by the lead guide, and (3) an operating memberfor moving the lead propelling means relative, to the lead guide, said operating members being non-operable to move their respectively associated lead propelling means when said magazines are in lead concealing position, means for moving any one of said magazines at will from its lead concealing position to said lead exposing position, means associated with said operating members for rendering the operating member of said any one magazine operable to move its associated lead propelling means when said last named magazine is moved into lead exposing position, and means responsive to movement of said last named magazine to lead exposing position for simultaneously returning to lead concealing position a second magazine in lead exposing position, said second named means including an actuating member within said casing positioned beyond the lead concealing positions of said magazines.

4. In a mechanical pencil, a casing, a plurality of lead magazines within said casing selectively 1 movable therein one at a time from discrete lead respective lead concealing positions, means for,

moving any one of said magazines at will from its lead concealing position to said common lead exposing position, means associated with said operating members for rendering the operating member of said any one magazine operable to move. its associated lead propelling means when said last named magazine is moved into said lead exposing position, and means responsive to movement of said last named magazine to said lead exposing position for simultaneously returning to its lead concealing position a second magazine in said lead exposing position, said second named 8 means including an actuating member within said casingfpositioned beyond the lead conceal-. ing positions of said magazines.

*5. In a mechanical pencil, a tubular casing including a control portion adjacent. one end, a tapered, tubular tip mounted on said casing at its other end, said control portion having a plurality of substantially longitudinal, circumferentially distributed slots therein, a plurality of lead magazines in said casing each movable from an idle position within said casing 'spaced'from said control portion to a writing position in said tip and each including (1) a lead guide, (2) lead propelling means movably carried by said lead guide, (3) an operating member for moving the lead propelling means relative to the lead guide, and '(4) a control element extending through a separate one of said slots, said operating members being non-operable to move their respectively associated lead propelling means when'said magazines are in their idle positions, means carried by said tip adapted to cooperate with any oneof said operating members when the magazine of which it is a part is advanced'to writing position to render such advanced operating member operableto move its associated lead propeling means, said control elements being selectively movable in their respective slots to advance their associated magazines'from said idle positions to said writing'position, means for removably locking an advancedmagazine in said writing position, and means within said casing control portion associated with said control elements for simultaneously unlocking an advanced magazine and effecting return thereof to its idle position upon move ment of an idle magazine tosaid writing posi-' tion. 1

6; A mechanical pencil according to claim 5 characterized in that said last named means is constituted by a cam device within said casing control portion. .7 y p I 7 7. A mechanical pencil according to claim 5 characterized in that said last named means is constituted by a tubular member rotatably mounted in said casing control portion, said tubular member being also provided. witha like plurality of substantiall longitudinally extending cire cumferentially distributed slots in aligned relation with said first named slots, each of said controleleme'nts extending through a separate asber in the reverse direction to release said first mentioned magazine for return to its idle position and then will rotate said tubular member again in said one direction to thereby condition said tubular member to subsequently return saidsec 0nd elements'magazine to its i-dle position when another control member is operated in its slots to advance the last named members magazine, 1

8. In a, mechanical pencil, a tubular casing, a tapered, tubular tip rotatably carried by said cas-' ing, a plurality of lead magazines in saidcasing, each of saidmagazines including (1) a lead guide, (2) lead propelling means, and (3) an operating member rotatively associated with the lead propelling means for moving the lead propelling means relative to the lead guide upon rela-' tive rotation between the lead propelling means and the operating member, manually operable means for moving any one of said magazines at will from idle position within said casing to Writing position in said tip, means in said tip for releasably locking to itself the operating member of a magazine in writing position whereby said tip and the locked operating member will rotate as a unit relative to said casing, means on said casing locking said lead propelling means thereto for coaction as a second unit, said units being rotatable relative to each other to thereby propel -a lead, and means associated with said manually operable means for retracting a magazine in writing position to an idle position within said casing simultaneously with the movement REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,136,290 Fend Nov. 8, 1938 15 2,142,312 Heinz Jan. 3, 1939 2,344,447 Meier Mar. 14, 1944 

